Oscar Aguilar Alfaro, PhD

Title(s)Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Immunology
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address513 Parnassus Avenue, HSE, #1001B
San Francisco CA 94143
PronounsHe/Him/His
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0002-7990-8745 Additional info
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, CanadaBSc06/2007Biochemistry
    Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, CanadaMSc08/2009Biology
    University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaPhD04/2017Immunology
    Collapse awards and honors
    Intersections Science Fellows Symposium (ISFS), Yale University2021Intersections Science Fellow
    Cell Mentor, Cell Press2020Listed as one of "100 Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists in America"
    Cancer Research Institute2019CRI - Irvington Post-Doctoral Fellowship
    Burroughs Wellcome Fund2018BWF - Post-Doctoral Enrichment Program Award
    American Association of Immunologists (AAI)2017AAI-Thermo Fisher Trainee Achievement Award
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)2019Rising Stars in Biomedical: URM2019
    University of Toronto2016Richard G. Miller Award

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    Natural killer (NK) cells are critical members of our immune system that protect us from viral infections and cancers. They are innate lymphocytes that use cell surface NK receptors to distinguish between self and non-self (or altered-self). Upon identifying a target cell as harmful, NK cells release cytotoxic granules that directly kill the target cell. My lab investigates the roles that NK cell receptors play in recognizing pathogenic cells, including cancers and viral infection. In addition, we also are interested in understanding the mechanisms that lead to NK cells developing "adaptive" features, traits that can be harnessed to maximize NK cell effectiveness for immunotherapies.
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    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Pretreatment with IL-15 and IL-18 rescues natural killer cells from granzyme B-mediated apoptosis after cryopreservation. Nat Commun. 2024 May 10; 15(1):3937. Berjis A, Muthumani D, Aguilar OA, Pomp O, Johnson O, Finck AV, Engel NW, Chen L, Plachta N, Scholler J, Lanier LL, June CH, Sheppard NC. PMID: 38729924; PMCID: PMC11087472.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    2. PVRL2 Suppresses Antitumor Immunity through PVRIG- and TIGIT-independent Pathways. Cancer Immunol Res. 2024 May 02; 12(5):575-591. Yang J, Wang L, Byrnes JR, Kirkemo LL, Driks H, Belair CD, Aguilar OA, Lanier LL, Wells JA, Fong L, Blelloch R. PMID: 38588410; PMCID: PMC11063765.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    3. ITAM-based receptors in natural killer cells. Immunol Rev. 2024 05; 323(1):40-53. Aguilar OA, Fong LK, Lanier LL. PMID: 38411263; PMCID: PMC11102329.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    4. MICB Genomic Variant Is Associated with NKG2D-mediated Acute Lung Injury and Death. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024 01 01; 209(1):70-82. Aguilar OA, Qualls AE, Gonzalez-Hinojosa MDR, Obeidalla S, Kerchberger VE, Tsao T, Singer JP, Looney MR, Raymond W, Hays SR, Golden JA, Kukreja J, Shaver CM, Ware LB, Christie J, Diamond JM, Lanier LL, Greenland JR, Calabrese DR. PMID: 37878820; PMCID: PMC10870895.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. CCR5 drives NK cell-associated airway damage in pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury. JCI Insight. 2023 11 08; 8(21). Santos J, Wang P, Shemesh A, Liu F, Tsao T, Aguilar OA, Cleary SJ, Singer JP, Gao Y, Hays SR, Golden JA, Leard L, Kleinhenz ME, Kolaitis NA, Shah R, Venado A, Kukreja J, Weigt SS, Belperio JA, Lanier LL, Looney MR, Greenland JR, Calabrese DR. PMID: 37788115; PMCID: PMC10721259.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    
    6. The CD16 and CD32b Fc-gamma receptors regulate antibody-mediated responses in mouse natural killer cells. J Leukoc Biol. 2023 01 10; 113(1):27-40. Aguilar OA, Gonzalez-Hinojosa MDR, Arakawa-Hoyt JS, Millan AJ, Gotthardt D, Nabekura T, Lanier LL. PMID: 36822164; PMCID: PMC10197019.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    7. Alveolar macrophage metabolic programming via a C-type lectin receptor protects against lipo-toxicity and cell death. Nat Commun. 2022 11 25; 13(1):7272. Scur M, Mahmoud AB, Dey S, Abdalbarri F, Stylianides I, Medina-Luna D, Gamage GS, Woblistin A, Wilson ANM, Zein HS, Stueck A, Wight A, Aguilar OA, Di Cara F, Parsons BD, Rahim MMA, Carlyle JR, Makrigiannis AP. PMID: 36433992; PMCID: PMC9700784.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    8. Influence of Self-MHC Class I Recognition on the Dynamics of NK Cell Responses to Cytomegalovirus Infection. J Immunol. 2022 04 01; 208(7):1742-1754. Potempa M, Aguilar OA, Gonzalez-Hinojosa MDR, Tenvooren I, Marquez DM, Spitzer MH, Lanier LL. PMID: 35321880; PMCID: PMC8976824.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    9. The CD3ζ adaptor structure determines functional differences between human and mouse CD16 Fc receptor signaling. J Exp Med. 2022 05 02; 219(5). Aguilar OA, Fong LK, Ishiyama K, DeGrado WF, Lanier LL. PMID: 35320345; PMCID: PMC8953085.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    10. Mass cytometry reveals single-cell kinetics of cytotoxic lymphocyte evolution in CMV-infected renal transplant patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 02 22; 119(8). Ishiyama K, Arakawa-Hoyt J, Aguilar OA, Damm I, Towfighi P, Sigdel T, Tamaki S, Babdor J, Spitzer MH, Reed EF, Sarwal MM, Lanier LL, CMV Systems Immunobiology Group. PMID: 35181606; PMCID: PMC8872722.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    11. Natural killer cells activated through NKG2D mediate lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. J Clin Invest. 2021 02 01; 131(3). Calabrese DR, Aminian E, Mallavia B, Liu F, Cleary SJ, Aguilar OA, Wang P, Singer JP, Hays SR, Golden JA, Kukreja J, Dugger D, Nakamura M, Lanier LL, Looney MR, Greenland JR. PMID: 33290276; PMCID: PMC7852842.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 24     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    12. Tetramer Immunization and Selection Followed by CELLISA Screening to Generate Monoclonal Antibodies against the Mouse Cytomegalovirus m12 Immunoevasin. J Immunol. 2020 09 15; 205(6):1709-1717. Aguilar OA, Tanaka M, Balaji GR, Berry R, Rossjohn J, Lanier LL, Carlyle JR. PMID: 32817368.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCellsPHPublic Health
    13. Mouse Cytomegalovirus m153 Protein Stabilizes Expression of the Inhibitory NKR-P1B Ligand Clr-b. J Virol. 2019 12 12; 94(1). Aguilar OA, Sampaio IS, Rahim MMA, Samaniego JD, Tilahun ME, Krishnamoorthy M, Popovic B, Babic M, Krmpotic A, Treanor B, Margulies DH, Allan DSJ, Makrigiannis AP, Jonjic S, Carlyle JR. PMID: 31597762; PMCID: PMC6912091.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    14. KLF12 Regulates Mouse NK Cell Proliferation. J Immunol. 2019 08 15; 203(4):981-989. Lam VC, Folkersen L, Aguilar OA, Lanier LL. PMID: 31300511; PMCID: PMC6684394.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Mouse cytomegalovirus-experienced ILC1s acquire a memory response dependent on the viral glycoprotein m12. Nat Immunol. 2019 08; 20(8):1004-1011. Weizman OE, Song E, Adams NM, Hildreth AD, Riggan L, Krishna C, Aguilar OA, Leslie CS, Carlyle JR, Sun JC, O'Sullivan TE. PMID: 31263280; PMCID: PMC6697419.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 45     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    16. Recognition of host Clr-b by the inhibitory NKR-P1B receptor provides a basis for missing-self recognition. Nat Commun. 2018 11 05; 9(1):4623. Balaji GR, Aguilar OA, Tanaka M, Shingu-Vazquez MA, Fu Z, Gully BS, Lanier LL, Carlyle JR, Rossjohn J, Berry R. PMID: 30397201; PMCID: PMC6218473.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    17. NKR-P1B expression in gut-associated innate lymphoid cells is required for the control of gastrointestinal tract infections. Cell Mol Immunol. 2019 11; 16(11):868-877. Abou-Samra E, Hickey Z, Aguilar OA, Scur M, Mahmoud AB, Pyatibrat S, Tu MM, Francispillai J, Mortha A, Carlyle JR, Rahim MMA, Makrigiannis AP. PMID: 30275537; PMCID: PMC6828740.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    18. The Inhibitory NKR-P1B:Clr-b Recognition Axis Facilitates Detection of Oncogenic Transformation and Cancer Immunosurveillance. Cancer Res. 2018 07 01; 78(13):3589-3603. Tanaka M, Fine JH, Kirkham CL, Aguilar OA, Belcheva A, Martin A, Ketela T, Moffat J, Allan DSJ, Carlyle JR. PMID: 29691253.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    19. Transcriptome analysis reveals similarities between human blood CD3- CD56bright cells and mouse CD127+ innate lymphoid cells. Sci Rep. 2017 06 14; 7(1):3501. Allan DSJ, Cerdeira AS, Ranjan A, Kirkham CL, Aguilar OA, Tanaka M, Childs RW, Dunbar CE, Strominger JL, Kopcow HD, Carlyle JR. PMID: 28615725; PMCID: PMC5471261.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 25     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    20. Freeze-responsive regulation of MEF2 proteins and downstream gene networks in muscles of the wood frog, Rana sylvatica. J Therm Biol. 2017 Jul; 67:1-8. Aguilar OA, Hadj-Moussa H, Storey KB. PMID: 28558931.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    21. A Viral Immunoevasin Controls Innate Immunity by Targeting the Prototypical Natural Killer Cell Receptor Family. Cell. 2017 03 23; 169(1):58-71.e14. Aguilar OA, Berry R, Rahim MMA, Reichel JJ, Popovic B, Tanaka M, Fu Z, Balaji GR, Lau TNH, Tu MM, Kirkham CL, Mahmoud AB, Mesci A, Krmpotic A, Allan DSJ, Makrigiannis AP, Jonjic S, Rossjohn J, Carlyle JR. PMID: 28340350.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 46     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    22. Interferon-Dependent Induction of Clr-b during Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection Protects Bystander Cells from Natural Killer Cells via NKR-P1B-Mediated Inhibition. J Innate Immun. 2017; 9(4):343-358. Kirkham CL, Aguilar OA, Yu T, Tanaka M, Mesci A, Chu KL, Fine JH, Mossman KL, Bremner R, Allan DSJ, Carlyle JR. PMID: 28288457; PMCID: PMC6738865.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    23. Transcriptional activation of muscle atrophy promotes cardiac muscle remodeling during mammalian hibernation. PeerJ. 2016; 4:e2317. Zhang Y, Aguilar OA, Storey KB. PMID: 27602284; PMCID: PMC4991874.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    
    24. Expansion and Protection by a Virus-Specific NK Cell Subset Lacking Expression of the Inhibitory NKR-P1B Receptor during Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection. J Immunol. 2016 09 15; 197(6):2325-37. Rahim MM, Wight A, Mahmoud AB, Aguilar OA, Lee SH, Vidal SM, Carlyle JR, Makrigiannis AP. PMID: 27511735.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    25. Regulation of SMAD transcription factors during freezing in the freeze tolerant wood frog, Rana sylvatica. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2016 Nov; 201:64-71. Aguilar OA, Hadj-Moussa H, Storey KB. PMID: 27424790.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    26. Modulation of Clr Ligand Expression and NKR-P1 Receptor Function during Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection. J Innate Immun. 2015; 7(6):584-600. Aguilar OA, Mesci A, Ma J, Chen P, Kirkham CL, Hundrieser J, Voigt S, Allan DS, Carlyle JR. PMID: 26044139; PMCID: PMC6738858.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    27. Genetic investigation of MHC-independent missing-self recognition by mouse NK cells using an in vivo bone marrow transplantation model. J Immunol. 2015 Mar 15; 194(6):2909-18. Chen P, Aguilar OA, Rahim MM, Allan DS, Fine JH, Kirkham CL, Ma J, Tanaka M, Tu MM, Wight A, Kartsogiannis V, Gillespie MT, Makrigiannis AP, Carlyle JR. PMID: 25681346.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    28. An in vitro model of innate lymphoid cell function and differentiation. Mucosal Immunol. 2015 Mar; 8(2):340-51. Allan DS, Kirkham CL, Aguilar OA, Qu LC, Chen P, Fine JH, Serra P, Awong G, Gommerman JL, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC, Carlyle JR. PMID: 25138665.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 35     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    29. A truncated human NKG2D splice isoform negatively regulates NKG2D-mediated function. J Immunol. 2014 Sep 15; 193(6):2764-2771. Karimi MA, Aguilar O, Zou B, Bachmann MH, Carlyle JR, Baldwin CL, Kambayashi T. PMID: 25092887; PMCID: PMC4157112.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    30. Poxvirus infection-associated downregulation of C-type lectin-related-b prevents NK cell inhibition by NK receptor protein-1B. J Immunol. 2012 May 15; 188(10):4980-91. Williams KJ, Wilson E, Davidson CL, Aguilar OA, Fu L, Carlyle JR, Burshtyn DN. PMID: 22491247.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    31. Analysis of the mouse 129-strain Nkrp1-Clr gene cluster reveals conservation of genomic organization and functional receptor-ligand interactions despite significant allelic polymorphism. Immunogenetics. 2011 Oct; 63(10):627-40. Chen P, Bélanger S, Aguilar OA, Zhang Q, St-Laurent A, Rahim MM, Makrigiannis AP, Carlyle JR. PMID: 21667046.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
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